Asian Champions Trophy hockey: Navneet, Lalremsiami on target as India overcome Japan goalkeeper’s heroics to reach final

Kudo was playing like a character in a Japanese anime, who seemed to possess the superpower to read where Indian forwards were targeting. She saved with her pads closed, she saved with her stick stretched upwards, and she saved with her outstretched feet on either side. She rightly was named player of the match, but India did emerge with a couple of late goals in the final quarter.

India made 23 circle entries compared to Japan’s 6. Apart from a last-minute Penalty Corner effort, Japan had no real shots on goal. And India won a whopping 13 Penalty Corners, compared to just that late one for Japan. But that they had to wait for 48 minutes for such dominance to translate into a goal is a point of concern.

When the breakthrough eventually came, it was via Deepika, who until then had a frustrating night. The forward from Haryana, who is also the team’s primary drag-flicker, was repeatedly denied by Kudo. Deepika might not have got her power or angles right from a few PCs, but late in the second quarter, she did everything right. She beat the run of the first-rusher, she held her shape long enough on the drag, and the flick left her stick at a good speed. Only for Kudo to put her right leg out and prevent the ball from sneaking in close to the post. In the third quarter too, Deepika created a magnificent chance for herself after stealing the ball from the last Japanese defender, but fired high and wide from a 1v1 situation.

But early in the final quarter, Deepika would have a big say in the outcome. Receiving a smart flicked pass from Sangita Kumari, she dropped her shoulder to change direction and beat her marker, and when she drove into the circle at speed, she was pushed down for the umpire to award a Penalty Stroke. And vice-captain Navneet stepped up to just beat Kudo, who had guessed the right direction but couldn’t keep the ball out.

“When we win 13 PCs, we have to score at least two or three,” Harendra told the media after the match. “We tried around 8 variations but I have to give credit to the goalkeeper, she read every indirect attempt we made. She saved to her right as well as left, and even stopped a couple of second balls. Saved amazing goals on the line. We need to polish this area, we were either a second early or late in tipping off the ball. In this type of game, we had to score from a PC early and the match would have been more open for us.”

Sunelita’s lighting assist

India’s second goal was special as 17-year-old Sunelita Toppo showed why she is so highly rated. Showing off her immense pace and stick work, the youngster from Odisha drove to the byline down the right. It’s from such positions that India have been guilty of not finding the right pass. But Sunelita took her time to find an unmarked Lalremsiami at the far post, who swept past a diving Kudo.

“Sunelita is a very exciting new player in our team and she possesses great speed,” Navneet said. “This is her first major tournament at this level. In such a crucial match, to come up with such a good assist, using her speed to good effect, it is a great sign for our team. It’s good for our future.”

Before the match, Harendra said that he told his players: “You are in Buddha’s land (Rajgir) so just be Buddha once inside the circle and don’t try to be the flying horse.” The search for such calmness under pressure won’t happen overnight, but Harendra – who hails from Bihar himself – would ideally want to avoid such late drama against China in the final. Being Buddha is easier said than done.